Thousands of protesters flooded Downtown Los Angeles Sunday to urge the U.S. House of Representatives to bring comprehensive immigration reform back to the table. A series of additional protests is now scheduled for Oct. 5 for what is being billed as a “National Day of Dignity and Respect.”

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(EGP photo by Gloria Angelina Castillo)

Dozens of organizations in California alone will come together for 12 separate protests across the state in support of immigration reform.

According to the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights Los Angeles (CHIRLA), a variety of events—from rallies to marches, to community forums, vigils, walks and a rock concert—are being planned for Bakersfield, Fresno, Irvine, Modesto, Monterrey, Sacramento, San Bernardino, San Francisco, San Jose, San Diego, Santa Barbara, as well as Los Angeles, where a “March of the Stars” and rally will take place at 10 a.m. that day.

Organizers will forgo their usual route in downtown Los Angeles and MacArthur Park, opting instead to gather at Hollywood Boulevard and Western. Their goal is to compel congress to pass immigration reform with a path to citizenship by the end of this year.

“…If the House of Representatives’ Speaker Boehner allowed a vote today, there would be sufficient votes from Democrats and Republicans to approve a proposal that would secure our borders, boost our economy, and keep families together,” according to CHIRLA’s press release announcing the march and rally.

“So far, the status quo seems comfortable for leaders in Congress. Millions have grown tired and wary and are taking action during the next 45 days. October 5 marks the escalation of a nation-wide effort to say: the time is now, we have the votes!”

The series of protests are being organized by “The California Table,” a project of CHIRLA and a network of more than 45 independent organizations in California working for immigration reform, according to the statement.

For more information on the National Day of Dignity and Respect, visit www.octoberimmigration.org or www.reformaoctubre.org